Manila, July 21(AseanAll) — Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro met with U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kevin Kim on 20 July 2026 to discuss developments in the region and explore opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and the United States in the framework of ASEAN.
Both sides underscored the importance of ASEAN centrality and unity in addressing common challenges and advancing regional cooperation in areas such as energy security, food security, and digital cooperation.
They discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration under existing ASEAN-led mechanisms and to strengthen partnerships that contribute to regional peace, security, and prosperity.
They also exchanged views on recent regional developments and initiatives that support innovation, connectivity, and capacity-building across Southeast Asia.
Lazaro took the opportunity to thank Ambassador Kim for his crucial role in the US Senate’s passage of the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), which allocated USD 2.5 billion in US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines for 2026 to 2030.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their support for shared regional priorities, reflecting the enduring strength of the Philippines–United States alliance and economic partnership.
